
The Plastic Manufacturers Federation (PLASFED), in coordination with representatives from five countries belonging to the Nordic and Schengen regions, met with the leading figures in the sector in Istanbul. The roundtable meeting titled 'Turkey's Transition to Circularity in the Plastic Sector,' held on June 24, 2025, at the Dutch Consulate, provided an important platform for international collaborations and the vision of sustainability in the sector.
The meeting, conducted with the participation of experts in their fields under the auspices of the PLASFED Board of Directors, had a significant impact in terms of content and participation level. The distinguished participants identified and discussed topics that would strengthen collaboration with European countries.
The meeting, in which PLASFED actively participated, was considered an important step for the global integration of the sector. Valuable insights were shared regarding Turkey's transition to circularity in the plastic sector.
During the meeting, topics such as the integration of circular economy practices into the sector, waste management strategies, recycling technologies, and sustainable raw material usage were highlighted. Participants reached a consensus on sharing international experiences in these areas and adapting best practice examples to the Turkish plastic sector. Additionally, the challenges faced by industrialists in complying with green deal targets and suggested solutions were discussed.
Karadeniz: "Environmental sustainability is a strategic opportunity"
The President of PLASFED, Ömer Karadeniz, expressed his gratitude to all country representatives, especially the Dutch Consulate, which hosted the event.
Karadeniz stated that they see environmental sustainability not only as a responsibility but also as a strategic opportunity for sectoral transformation. He emphasized that this meeting is a strong indicator that transformation is only possible through a multi-stakeholder, constructive dialogue.
Reminding that the Turkish plastic sector is one of the locomotive sectors of the economy with over 300 thousand jobs and a significant indirect export capacity of approximately 15 billion dollars, Karadeniz expressed their belief that a model combining production power with environmental responsibility is both possible and sustainable.
In his evaluation of the meeting's content, Karadeniz stated that environmental sensitivity and recycling also hold strategic importance from an investment perspective. "We must not only listen to market signals but also effectively use these signals," said Karadeniz, highlighting that the importance given to environmental sustainability will increase Turkey's investment appeal. He noted that our country has high potential open to investment in many areas, stating, "However, to leverage this potential, we need to take determined and comprehensive steps in the areas of environment and recycling."
Emphasizing the importance of multi-stakeholder collaborations, Karadeniz remarked that the meeting organized with the joint initiative of the Netherlands and Nordic countries is extremely valuable in this regard. He also highlighted the importance given by the Istanbul Chamber of Industry to this process, stating, "The participation of our Deputy Secretary General in the meeting is a clear indicator of the Chamber's support for the environmental transition process."
Karadeniz stated that the meeting, which included many experts in industrial and environmental policies, will play a critical role in the steps to be taken towards Turkey's sustainable development goals, adding that the ideas shared during the event, the collaborations to be established, and the joint steps to be taken will be decisive in the sector's journey of transformation.
Uijterlinde: "The circularity of plastics is a global responsibility"
In his opening speech, Dutch Consul Arjen Uijterlinde welcomed the participants, saying "Welcome!" Uijterlinde expressed their happiness to host everyone there, thanking all Nordic country representatives who made this collaboration possible. He also expressed his thanks to PLASFED President Ömer Karadeniz for his contributions to this process.
Uijterlinde stressed that the Netherlands attaches great importance to plastics and particularly the circularity of plastics, noting that this area is a priority topic in the international collaborations conducted worldwide. He remarked that the joint efforts with the European Union and Nordic countries constitute a responsibility area not just for the Netherlands but for all countries.
Stating that the main purpose of the meeting is to evaluate the opportunities arising in the transition process of Turkey's plastic industry to a circular economy and to discuss the international collaborations that can be developed in this transformation, the Consul said, "We hope to obtain tangible results from this meeting. We will explore the transformation potential of the plastic industry in Turkey and the contributions we can make to this process."
The meeting continued with productive discussions aimed at increasing sustainability-focused cooperation between industry representatives and international missions.
Translated by Artificial Intelligence